In the context of the Bible, the term "shriek" is not commonly used in most English translations. However, the concept of a loud, piercing cry or scream can be found in various passages, often associated with expressions of fear, anguish, or demonic activity.

Old Testament Context

While the specific word "shriek" does not appear in the Old Testament, the idea of a loud cry is present. For example, in the book of Exodus, the Egyptians let out a great cry when they discovered the death of their firstborn: "And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no house where there was not someone dead" (Exodus 12:30). This cry can be understood as a collective shriek of despair and mourning.

In the Psalms, cries of distress are often directed towards God, seeking His intervention and deliverance. Psalm 18:6 states, "In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears." Although not described as a shriek, the intensity of the cry reflects deep emotional turmoil.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of a shriek is more explicitly connected to demonic encounters. In the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus confronts unclean spirits, their reaction is often described with loud cries. Mark 1:26 recounts, "At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek." This shriek signifies the spirit's recognition of Jesus' authority and its forced departure.

Similarly, in Acts 8:7 , during Philip's ministry in Samaria, it is recorded, "With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed." The shrieks here are indicative of the spiritual battle and the triumph of the Holy Spirit over demonic forces.

Symbolic and Theological Implications

The shriek, as depicted in these biblical narratives, often symbolizes a moment of confrontation between the divine and the demonic, the holy and the unholy. It serves as an audible manifestation of the spiritual realm's acknowledgment of God's supreme power. The shriek is not merely a sound but a testament to the authority of Christ and the transformative power of the Gospel.

In a broader theological sense, the shriek can also represent the human condition's response to sin, suffering, and the need for redemption. It underscores the reality of spiritual warfare and the ultimate victory of God's kingdom over darkness.

Conclusion

While the term "shriek" itself is not frequently used in the Bible, the concept is woven into the fabric of biblical narratives, illustrating moments of intense spiritual and emotional significance. Through these accounts, believers are reminded of the power of God to overcome evil and the hope found in His deliverance.1. (v. i.) To utter a loud, sharp, shrill sound or cry, as do some birds and beasts; to scream, as in a sudden fright, in horror or anguish.

2. (v. t.) To utter sharply and shrilly; to utter in or with a shriek or shrieks.

3. (n.) A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild cry such as is caused by sudden or extreme terror, pain, or the like.

2896. krazo -- to scream, cry out
... to scream, cry out. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: krazo Phonetic Spelling:
(krad'-zo) Short Definition: I cry aloud, shriek Definition: I cry aloud ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2896.htm - 8k

3649. ololuzo -- to cry aloud
... 3649 -- an onomatopoetic term, resembling the sound of an ecstatic (exuberant) cry
or shriek; meaning , , expressing feelings (used only in Js 5:1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3649.htm - 6k

2355. threnos -- a lamentation.
... Cognate: 2355 -- to cry aloud (wail). See 2354 (). Word Origin from threomai
(cry aloud, shriek) Definition a lamentation. lamentation. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2355.htm - 6k

5860a. it -- to scream, shriek
... it. 5860b . to scream, shriek. Transliteration: it Short Definition: scorned.
Word Origin a prim. root Definition to scream, shriek NASB Word Usage scorned (1 ...
/hebrew/5860a.htm - 5k

5860. iyt -- to scream, shriek
... 5859, 5860. iyt. 5860a . to scream, shriek. Transliteration: iyt Phonetic
Spelling: (eet) Short Definition: fly. fly, rail A primitive ...
/hebrew/5860.htm - 5k

2199. zaaq -- to cry, cry out, call
... A primitive root; to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald)
to announce or convene publicly -- assemble, call (together), (make a) cry (out ...
/hebrew/2199.htm - 6k

6818. tseaqah -- a cry, outcry
... distress (1), outcry (6). crying. From tsa'aq; a shriek -- cry(-ing). see HEBREW
tsa'aq. 6817, 6818. tseaqah. 6819 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6818.htm - 6k

6817. tsaaq -- to cry, cry out, call
... A primitive root; to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly) -- X at
all, call together, cry (out), gather (selves) (together). 6816, 6817. ...
/hebrew/6817.htm - 6k

602. anaq -- to cry, groan
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to cry, groan NASB Word Usage groan (4). cry,
groan. A primitive root; to shriek -- cry, groan. 601, 602. anaq. 603 . ...
/hebrew/602.htm - 5k

2201. zeaqah -- a cry, outcry
... crying. And (feminine) zoaqah {zeh-aw-kaw'}; from za'aq; a shriek or outcry --
cry(-ing). see HEBREW za'aq. 2200, 2201. zeaqah. 2202 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2201.htm - 6k

Missed Ends
... Sometimes when a piercing shriek cut the quiet air and reached them it
disturbed them, and they thought it a rather vulgar noise. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter vi missed ends.htm

Fearlessness.
... and bid them look within at their own slime and filth; who will "cry aloud and spare
not," though the infuriated cohorts of bat-winged demons snarl and shriek. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/rees/the heart-cry of jesus/chapter vi fearlessness.htm

The Condemnation which Condemns the Judges
... attempts to find evidence against Him, which were met by His silence; His own majestic
witness to Himself, which was met by a unanimous shriek of condemnation ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture d/the condemnation which condemns the.htm

The Agony, and the Consoler
... Even boys were arrested and dragged to the Justice Hall, and the street would be
startled by the wild shriek of a mother who saw her bright lad led away to a ...
/.../chapter iii the agony and.htm

Protest and Agony. (I, iv. 10, 19, vi. 11, xi. 18-xii. 6, xv. 10 ...
... tone of this Prophet. As he says himself,. For as oft as I speak I must shriek,
And cry "Violence and Spoil!"(681). His first word is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 protest and agony i.htm

Christ's Encouragements
... Evangelist the story. They cry out with a shriek of terror"because Jesus
Christ is coming to them in so strange a fashion! Have we ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/christs encouragements.htm

The First-Born
... gods. At that moment an incisive shriek cut the increasing murmur in the
palace and died away in a long shuddering wail of grief. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xl the first-born.htm

Christ Our Passover
... It is the dead of the night. Suddenly they hear a shriek! The father says,
"Keep within doors, my children; you will know what it ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/christ our passover.htm

Paul's Desire to Depart
... And now my friends, let us consider THE APOSTLE'S DESIRE. How differently do men
regard death. We have seen men shriek at the prospect of it. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/pauls desire to depart.htm

Enthusiasm.
... Above the shriek of the storm and roar of the waters rose his rending cry. It was
an agonizing moment. ... One wild shriek of despair, and the victim went down. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/to the work to the work/chapter v enthusiasm.htm

Shriek (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To utter sharply and shrilly; to utter in or with a shriek or
shrieks. ... Multi-Version Concordance Shriek (2 Occurrences). ...
/s/shriek.htm - 7k

Screech (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To utter a harsh, shrill cry; to make a sharp
outcry, as in terror or acute pain; to scream; to shriek. ...
/s/screech.htm - 8k

Scream (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vi) To cry out with a shrill voice; to utter a sudden, sharp outcry, or shrill,
loud cry, as in fright or extreme pain; to shriek; to screech. ...
/s/scream.htm - 7k

Yell (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To cry out, or shriek, with a hideous
noise; to cry or scream as with agony or horror. 2. (vt) To ...
/y/yell.htm - 6k

Shrewdness (3 Occurrences)

/s/shrewdness.htm - 7k

Shrieked (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Shriek. Multi-Version Concordance
Shrieked (2 Occurrences). Mark 9:26 Having cried out, and ...
/s/shrieked.htm - 7k

Water (4571 Occurrences)
... professor of medicine in University College, London, one of the greatest authorities
on the diseases of the heart, says that a "piercing shriek" is always ...
/w/water.htm - 23k

Blood (435 Occurrences)
... professor of medicine in University College, London, one of the greatest authorities
on the diseases of the heart, says that a "piercing shriek" is always ...
/b/blood.htm - 54k

Hastening (6 Occurrences)
... Zephaniah 1:14 Near 'is' the great day of Jehovah, Near, and hasting exceedingly,
The noise of the day of Jehovah, Bitterly shriek there doth a mighty one. ...
/h/hastening.htm - 8k

Hasting (9 Occurrences)
... Zephaniah 1:14 Near 'is' the great day of Jehovah, Near, and hasting exceedingly,
The noise of the day of Jehovah, Bitterly shriek there doth a mighty one. ...
/h/hasting.htm - 9k

Shriek: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus